World Environment Day Festivities Kick Off In Delhi: Reforestation Projects & A Great Green Haat

WED 2011 has the theme of Forests: Nature at Your Service so what better way to kick off everything than commemorating a reforestation project. Worth noting, in the photo at the top those aren't the trees actually planted, rather they're bonsai presented to various dignitaries in attendance. Off among farmland in Mehrauli , just outside the city of Delhi proper but still within the city limits, on now-degraded land thousands of trees have been planted in an effort to reestablish forests, providing expanded wildlife habitat and ecosystem restoration--which as Indian environment minister Jairam Ramesh (above, talking with students attending the event) is keen to point out at every opportunity means improved livelihoods for people as well. The photos above don't really give a sense of scale to the project. Similar saplings have been planted, minus the commemorative plaques of...